Thanks for reading this hopefully HELPING ME...sure can use it!
Had a retaining wall built and they banked it after and put steps down the big hill. the problem is that I have rain run off...destroying and taking out the steps. The wall is built straigth across and then a L shape going back towards the house . Only two blocks...on each end...so the rain is running down the wall into the steps. I told the company they need to go out more so the run-off goes down towards the house and then down the hill. Am I correct. Single mom with really no clue but i think that would be the rigth thing to do??? what can I tell them to do...they seem to think it's ok...but it's not..washed away the steps twice....or every time it rains.
HELP...I have pics maybe that will help??
Geri-lyn

b128thopen

01-29-2011 01:38 PM

How tall is the wall?
Sounds like they did not install the proper drainage at the top of the wall. There should be either a swale cut at the top of the wall and carring the water AWAY from your house or some type of underdrain that drains away from the house.

pjordan4477

03-16-2011 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b128thopen
(Post 580373)

How tall is the wall?
Sounds like they did not install the proper drainage at the top of the wall. There should be either a swale cut at the top of the wall and carring the water AWAY from your house or some type of underdrain that drains away from the house.

Exactly, unless the wall is less than 4' high, then they may not have done drainage at all.

whammytap

04-29-2011 11:50 PM

Yes, drainage is really important, or water will build up behind the wall, underground, and eventually the water pressure will cause the wall to buckle. Right here in Kansas City, about a year ago, we had a highway overpass collapse because of this same problem, but they called it a "sinkhole" so your average person wouldn't know it was actually "poorly engineered."

I assume this is a concrete wall? It should have holes in the bottom with pipes visible inside the holes, to let water out at the bottom part. If you don't, you have a BIG problem.